I know its not diesel but its my winter beater. 93 dodge dakota w/ 3.9 v6 fuel injected. I drove it to work, come quitting time it wouldnt start. I live in ohio so right now the weather is about 10 degrees. The first couple "turn overs" it started, "spit and sputtered" then shut back down about 3 times. Then it just wouldnt start at all. I thought maybe I bought bad gas at the last gas station. So i had it tow'd home, sat in the heated garage overnight at about 60 degrees. Still it wont start. Im getting spark through the ign coil and to the plugs. I also can smell raw fuel coming out the tail pipe. So i have spark and fuel... what else is left? If anyone has any ideas id greatly appriciate! thanks

 

what is fuel pressure, how much spark? (needs to be about 3/4 inch nich blue spark) bad fuel pressure regulator bad? injectors firing at proper times problem with computer making injectors stay open and dump fuel.if injectors not being turned on camshaft pos snsr if distributor not sending sig to computer. also if everything in time shoud have engine cranking vac. unless severly plugged cat.

 

Dodge gas engines are notorious for that if the battery gets remotely weak. I would try two things.....1st put the gas pedal all the way to the floor and try cranking it, be ready to feather the pedal down after getting it running because it will need to relearn the idle. If that doesn't work, try the same thing with jumpstarting it. I have had good luck with the 1st option. If that doesn't work, check for spark, and check for fuel. Get a spark tester at AutoZone or someplace. Fairly cheap, and works on any gasser. I like the adjustable ones myself. Here - http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...le&kw=LIS50850

 

does it have a distributor and stuff, or is it just coil packs?

 

If no spark.....the Dodges are also known for cracking the coils. Look at the center of the coil where all the thin plaates of metal are. They usually get full of rust and spread apart. That can also crack the coil. To test the spark, check for power at the green wire on the coil. It will have power for a few seconds, then only when cranking. If you have power, then check for a blinking ground on the remaining wire. It should be black IIRC. To do that, put the negative end of the test light on the positive side of the battery. Then when you check the black wire, it should blink fairly fast while cranking. Check all that, and go from there.

 

he has spark but we dont know the quality that test wont prove anything

 

How do you know he has spark?

 

he said he does in his first post we dont know the quality though

 

My bad! DUH! Guess I should read more carefully. I'll still bet on the low voltage idle control motor. Hold 'er to the floor and give it a try.

 

it cool. im goin with what is fuel press. possible bad fuel press regulator diaphram or intake pump. hard to be 100% certain without seeing the vehicle and listening

 

Yes it has a distributer. I held it to the floor and still nothing. I have the battery on trickle charge right now although i dont think thats the problem, it turns over pretty quick. I know absolutly nothing about fuel injection. I gave it a shot of fuel down through the intake and again nothing. And since i have spark the crank pos sensor should be good right? Im stumped.

 

what is fuel pressure? how much spark you have? you should have bout 3/4 inch of a good blue spark. check for cranking engine vac. if no cranking engine vac. and everything else is good severly plugged cat.

 

On our 89 Dakota with the 3.9 v-6, pretty much the same deal - but 900 miles from nowhere between home and in-laws in Montana..... turned out to be a micro crack in distributor cap. Mechanic in the little town hubby hitched to knew it right away, said it was a common problem on this engine - especially coming from banana belt (NW WA) into subzero weather of the Montana winter.

2 cents worth?